Between the Alesani, Picchio and two panoramic views

Chiatra lies on a ridge between two waterways: the Alesani forms its northern boundary, and its tributary, the Picchio, forms the southern one. The Alesani Valley is wild here; its right bank belongs to Chiatra, and the valley floor is flooded by the reservoir created by the Alesani dam. The dam lies on the northern boundary of the municipality.

From the old part of the village, there are panoramic views over the Alesani reservoir. A second viewpoint in Chiatra looks across Mont Oppido and the plain to the sea. The viewpoints offer different perspectives: one looks out over the reservoir, while the other takes in the mountain and plain all the way to the sea. In the modern part of the village, there are also several fountains where visitors can refresh themselves.

Village history in churches and towers

Chiatra’s buildings span several historical periods. The former church of San Nicolao was built in the 10th century; today, only three arches remain. The Baroque chapel of Saint Pancrace, built in 1835, stands in the village square. The parish church of the Annunciation is designed in the Italian Baroque style. Its features include six chapels and an altar; it also has a façade and a bell tower. In the middle of the altar is a carved wooden tabernacle. Inside the church, a marble sculpture depicts the Virgin in prayer; it dates from the 17th century.

The Genoese towers and Mont Oppido also add to the picture: Chiatra has three towers dating from the early 16th century. Mont Oppido was a strategic point where the Romans built an oppidum. The history of the buildings stretches from the former church of San Nicolao, dating from the 10th century, to the Baroque chapel of 1835. In between are the towers from the early 16th century and the Marian sculpture from the 17th century. Church architecture, Genoese towers and Roman history can thus be appreciated as distinct features.

Routes with different lengths and durations

The Circuit des sources et des fontaines loop leads to six fountains: Piazza Cummuna, Calina, fontana Vecchia, Santa Croce, Vitti and U salge. It then returns to the village square. The Sentier de Chiatra is an easy, 3 km circular trail that starts and ends in Chiatra. The hike from Chiatra to Canale takes 1 hour and 45 minutes round trip. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours for Le lac (barrage d’Alesani); this hike also returns to its starting point.

The routes therefore differ both in their course and in the time required: the fountain loop connects six stops and returns to the village square, while the Sentier is described as an easy circular trail. For the hikes to Canale and the Alesani dam, you can plan around their different time requirements. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.

Chiatra offers a range of options when choosing the focus of your trip: the village’s history is reflected in its churches, chapel and towers, the viewpoints look out over different landscapes, and the routes range from a loop with fountain stops to longer hikes. You can plan your time according to whether you mainly want to explore the village’s history or also set aside more time for a hike.

Discover more destinations: Santo-Pietro-Di-Venaco, Algajola, Mazzola, Santo-Pietro-Di-Tenda, L'île-Rousse, Bisinchi, Erbalunga, Nonza.

For the overview of the wider area: Haute-Corse.